'WE GOT THIS BABY'

HOSPITAL DASH

Geordie Shore's Marnie Simpson is rushed to A&E days after revealing fears for health

SICK JOKE

NHS loses massive £40million from unpaid health tourism bills in just two years

Alcohol: 14 units a week

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“Safe” drinking levels for men were higher but this year the Department of Health is urging both sexes to drink no more than 2-3 units a day.

According to Dame Sally Davies, England’s chief medical officer: “Drinking any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk for anyone, but if men and women limit their intake to no more than 14 units a week, it keeps the risk of illnesses like cancer and liver disease low.”

Sunshine: 15 minutes a day

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We all know the risks of sunburn but for our bodies to produce enough vitamin D – which is important for our bone health – we do need exposure to sunlight.

In summer it is easy to get those 15 minutes we need to keep our vitamin levels up. But if you struggle in winter, you might need to take a daily supplement.

Waist: 80cm for women and 94cm for men maximum

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Carrying too much fat around your middle increases risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, cancer and stroke – even if you have a healthy BMI.

Cutting refined carbs and increasing protein intake will help.

The NHS says measure your waist midway between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips.

Having sex: 1 time a week

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The most recent data shows Brits have sex five times a month on average, or once a week.

And while other polls show we are happiest with three or four times a week, a US study of 2,400 married couples claimed that having sex more than once a week did not make couples happier.

But research found men who have sex at least twice a week halve their risk of heart disease.

BMI: 18-25

The problem with relying on your BMI is that it fails to tell the difference between fat, muscle and bone.

That means it can class someone who is extremely fit and lean as overweight.

Also, as adults get older and lose muscle mass, their BMI might stay within a “healthy” range when in fact they are carrying an unhealthy amount of fat.

Sleep: 7-8 hours a night

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Health experts say one of the best things you can do is to get enough sleep. Not getting enough can increase the risk of diabetes, depression, high blood pressure and strokes.

The National Sleep Council says adults need seven to eight hours a night. But don’t panic if you get less.

Dr Neil Stanley says: “If you feel refreshed when you wake, you’ve had the right amount for you.”

Laugh: 15 minutes a day

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Having a laugh is good for you. It reduces hormones that make you feel stressed, cortisol and epinephrine.

An Oxford University study in 2011 found laughter increases our pain threshold.

Laughing can also improve the circulation, lower blood pressure and improve mental function.

FLUIDS: 1.2 LITRES A DAY

It need not be water. Reduced-fat milk, herbal teas and unsweetened tea and coffee all count.

Six to eight glasses of fluid a day should stop Brits getting dehydrated but in hotter climates, the body needs more.

Exercising will also require more.

Exercise: 150 minutes a week:

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That equates to just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five times a week. This includes cycling, swimming, fast walking . . . even mowing the lawn.

You can halve that figure if you choose activities that give the body a more intense workout, such as running, skipping and tennis.

Fruit and veg: 5 a day

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Government guidelines say we should eat at least five portions of fruit and veg a day.

But the World Health Organisation says the lowest levels of heart disease and cancers are linked to eating TEN a day.

Another study found eating eight or more portions a day makes you 25 per cent less likely to die of heart disease than three portions a day.

PEE: SIX TIMES A DAY

If you need to go more than seven times in 24 hours you might have an overactive bladder – when even a small amount of liquid in the bladder sends signals urging you to go to the toilet.

How often you go can be affected by medication. Tablets for high blood pressure act as diuretics, so you pass water more often.

The Bladder & Bowel Foundation says you should see a GP if an increased urge to go makes you feel uncomfy.

Sitting down: 30 minutes maximum

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Whether you work at a desk or on a till, spend long periods driving or watching TV, sitting for more than half an hour at a time is bad for your health.

Too much sitting down can lead to crippling back pain and heart disease and is thought to increase your risk of dementia.

Try to get up at least once every half an hour. The Chief Medical Officer says a minute or two of activity in between helps.

Calories: 2,500 for men, 2,000 for women, daily

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Many of us eat too much, which is why nearly two thirds of Brits are overweight.

NHS guidelines are based on average height and build.

Other factors, such as age and how active you are, have an impact.

If you need to, aim to lose one to two pounds a week by reducing your daily calories by 500 to 600.

Blood pressure: 120/80Hg or lower

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Your heart pumps blood round your body to give it energy and oxygen.

The blood pushes against the sides of the blood vessels and this is measured as your blood pressure.

Too high and it puts strain on your heart, leading to heart attacks and strokes.